Vulcanizer-door-locking device.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

E. 0. SHAW. VULOANIZER DOOR LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1903. RENEWED MAR.10, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

FIG-.3.

i6 77 WITNESSES:

,w fmm ATTORNEY No. 758,862. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. E. O. SHAW.

VULOANIZER DOOR LOOKING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1903 RENEWED MAR. 10, 1904.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETSBHEET 2.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNTED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN COUPLAND SHAlV, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. F. UOODRICHCOMPANY OF OHIO, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VULCANlZER-DOOR-LOCKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION" forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,862, dated May 3,1904.

Application filed June 17, 1903. Renewed March 10, 1904. Serial No.197,585. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN OOUPLAND SHAW, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at the city of Akron, county of Summit, and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinVulcanizer-Door- Locking Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to vulcanizers for rubber goods, and has for itsobject to provide simple and etlicient devices assuring quick unlockingand opening and quick closing and tight locking of vulcanizer-doors tofacilitate successive and economical vulcanizing operations in the sameapparatus. This object is attained by my invention, which speciallymakes one series of inclined locking-faces adjustable relatively to thecorrespondingseries of inclined locking-faces, so that when the twoseries of locking-faces are properly alined and addressed to each othereach and every cooperating pair of locking-faces will simultaneousl yengage to substantially the same frictional degree all around thevuleanizer-door. The door will thus be closed to its steam-tight packingwith substantially equal force and tightness at all points of contact,and the thrusts arising either from closing the door or fromsteam-pressures generated within the vulcanizer will be evenlydistributed all around the door, which will remain tightly and securelyclosed while rubber goods are being cured in the vulcanizer. In the bestdevelopment of the invention one series of inclined locking-faces arearranged upon a ring, which preferably is revoluble upon ball-bearingsheld to the door to cause engagement of its inclined locking-faces withthose on the vulcanizer-body, said locking-faces on the body beingpreferably formed upon a series of thrust-blocks which arelongitudinally adjustable to provide for niccty of relative adjustmentof the two series of locking-faces on the vulcanizer body and door,respectively.

The invention also includes various details of construction, all ashereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure l is a front end view of ahorizontal vulcanizer and its closed hinged door, parts being brokenaway and in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line win Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail inner face view of one of thevulcanizer-body thrust-blocks or keepers and a portion of the door-latchring with their inclined or wedging faces engaged as when locking thedoor. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the hard-steel wedge-blockspreferably used on the door-latch ring. Fig. 5 is a front end view of alarger horizontal vuleanizer having a hingeless door, parts being brokenaway and in section. Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal detail view incrosssection on the line 1 ,1 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a front detailsectional view more especially illustrating the antifriction-bearings ofthe door-latch ring shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

I will first describe the small or mediumsize hinged door, with moreespecial reference to Figs. 1 to at of the drawings. The numeral 1indicates the vulcanizer-body, to the outer end of which is rigidlyfixed a heavy reinforcing metal band 2, which at its outer edge isfitted with a steam-packing ring 3. This band 2 supports a number ofthrustblocks or keepers 5, which are preferably adjustablelongitudinally in grooves of guidelugs 6, formed on the band 2. Thesekeepers preferably have two slots 7. receiving corresponding bolts 8,which pass into the band 2 or its lugs 6 to hold the keepers in theirguides. At its inner end each keeper has a lateral lug 9, into which arefitted from the rear two bolts 10, hearing on the rear face of the band2 or its lug 6. The bolts 10 primarily take the door-locking thrust andalso serve to set the keepers longitudinally prior to finally fasteningthem by the bolts 8 to hold said keepers in proper relation to thedoor-hinges 11 and its preferred latch-ring 12. This latch-ring isfitted revolubly in a bearing on the doorrim l3 and has a series of lugs14, to each of which is preferably fitted a hardened-steel wedge 15,presenting its inclined face to the inclined face of a lateral lug 16,formed on the corresponding keeper 5, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. The latch-ring 12 is held snugly to its bearing on thedoor-rim 13 by a number of metal blocks 17, bolted to the rim. Thelatch-ringis preferably provided with a lever 18 for turning it on thedoor-rim. As this lever has considerable length to permit-easy turningof the latch-ring by it, I prefer to fork the inner end of the lever andgive it two points of connection to the latch-ring. The forked end ofthe lever also gives it play over one of the keepers 5, which itstraddles, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Ifasten one-half of each of the two doorhinges 11 by adjustableconnections, preferably bolts 19, entering the door rim 13. as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. This allows the hinge connection of the door 4to the vulcanizer-body 1 to be made after the keepers 5 have beenadjusted longitudinally to hold their inclined lugs 16 in properrelation to the cooperating latch-ring inclines orwedges 15, therebyavoiding all binding at the hinges and assuring uniformly tight lockingof the door all around by uniform action of all the latch-ring wedges 15on all the keeper-lugs 16, while permitting secure hinge connection ofthe door to the press-body and allowing it to be easily and quicklyswung open and shut on the hinges.

For larger vulcanizers say four feet and more in diameterI prefer to usethe hingeless form of door shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawingsand which will be held by any suitable sling-hoist, so as to be raisedand swung aside or clear from the open front end of the vulcanizer. Inthis structure the metal band 2 on the vulcanizer-body l and the rim 13on the door iare slightly modified in form, while the steam-packing 3,the keepers 5, havinglugs 9 16, fastening-bolts 8, and settingbolts 10are similar to correspondingly-numbered parts above described. Thelatch-ring 12, having lugs 14:, provided with inclined faces or wedges15, engaging the inclined faces of the keeper-lugs 16, is here'fittedfor partial rotation on an antifriction-bearing, preferably comprising aseries of steel rollers 20, interposed between the latch-ring and thedoor-rim 13 and held in place by a divided retaining-ring 21, drawntightly to the doorrim by a bolt 22, fittedin end lugs of the retainer.This retaining-ring 21 is preferably seated in a groove in the door-rim,having a quite high wall or shoulder 28, which, together with the wideoverlap of the inner side of the retainer on the outer face of thelatchring, prevents displacement of the latter by pressure brought uponit when its wedgingfaces 15 engage those, 16, of the keepers 5 on thevulcanizer-body. Comparatively short handles'24, radiating from oppositeside portions of the latch-ring, afford suflicient leverage for easilyturning it in opposite directions for locking and unlocking this door.

The operation of locking and unlocking is the same for the hinged andhingeless doors. Suppose the door is shut and securely locked bymutualengagement of the wedging-surfaces of the latch-ring and keepers,as shown in drawings. To unlock the door,it is only necessary to turnthe latch-ring 12 by the lever 18 or handles 24 to disengage theinclined wedging-faces 15 of the latch-ring lugs from the inclinedwedging-faces of the keeper-lugs 16 and carry the lately-opposed lugsout of register, whereupon the door' t may be quickly swung openlaterally on its hinges or may be quickly lifted or removed by thesliding hoist to fully open the end of the vulcanizer. After therubber-holding molds are charged into the vulcanizer the door may be atonce swung shut on its hinges or may be replaced by the sling-hoist toallow the latch-ring 12 to be turned a little in reverse direction toagain engage its inclined lugs or faces 15 with inclined lugs of thekeepers 5 to lock the door closed tightly all around. The forcing of thepacking-ring 3 against the door by pressure of steam admitted to thevulcanizer doubly assures a steam or vapor tight joint of the door withthe vulcanizer-body. The longitudinal strain or thrust on the keepers 5,due to engagement with them of the latch-ring wedging-su rfaces, istaken finally on the heavy body-rim 2 through the set-bolts 10, andthese bolts may at any time be adjusted for most accurately regulatingthe positions of the inclined keeper-lugs relatively to the latch-ringwedging-surfaces to permanently secure a positively tight locking of thevulcanizer-door all around its joint with the vulcanizer-body. Theantifriction-bearing for the latch-ring 20 may also be used on thesmaller hinged doors, as will readily be understood.

It is obvious that the locking-ring having inclined wedging-surfaces maybe pivoted to the door to turn on the pivot during locking and unlockingof the door. Furthermore, the locking-ring may be fitted to turn on thevulcanizer-body, and the corresponding keepers may be located on thedoor, the effect being substantially as above described for the moreconvenient and preferred arrangement shown in the drawnings. Thecooperation of the packing-'ring 3 with the mutually-engaging inclinedlocking faces or parts on the door and vulcanizer-body assures apermantly tight closure of the door-joint by expansion of thepacking-ring by pressure of steam or vapor within the closed vulcanizer.

This invention while more especially adapted for vulcanizers is notlimited to them, as it may be adopted with advantage for closing thedoors of retorts, digesters, or other steam, gas, or chemical apparatus.

I claim as my invention 1. Vulcanizer-door-locking devices comprising aseries of longitudinally-adjustable spaced keepers held to thevulcanizer-body and having inclined faces, and a corresponding series ofrelatively movable spaced lugs on the door having inclined faces adaptedto engage the inclined faces of the keepers, said keepers having meanstaking the door-locking thrust and providing for setting them relativelyto the cooperating door-lugs, substantially as described.

2. Vulcanizer-door-lockingdevices comprising a series oflongitudinally-adjustable spaced keepers held to the vulcaniZer-body andhaving inclined faces, and a corresponding series of relatively movablespaced lugs on the hinged door having inclined faces adapted to engagethe inclined faces of the keepers; said keepers having means taking thedoorlock ing thrust and providing for setting them relatively to thecooperating door-lugs; the hinges of the door having parts finallyattachable after the keepers are adjusted to the door-lugs,substantially as described.

3. Vulcanizer-door-lockingdevices comprising a series of spaced keepersheld to the vulcanizer-body and having inclined faces, and a latch-ringfitted revolubly to the door and having a series of spaced lugs providedwith inclined faces adapted to simultaneously engage the inclined facesof all the keepers, substantially as described.

4. Vulcan izer-door-locking devices comprising a series of spacedkeepers held to the vulcanizer-body and having inclined faces, and alatch-ring fitted revolubly to the door and having a series of spacedlugs provided with inclined faces adapted to simultaneously engage theinclined faces of all the keepers, said latchring also having a lever orhandle for turning it on the door, substantially as described.

Vulcanizer-door-lockingdevices comprising a series oflongitudinally-adjustable spaced keepers held to the vulcaniZer-bod yand having inclined faces, and a latch-ring fitted revolubly to the doorand having a series of spaced lugs provided with inclined faces adaptedto simultaneously engage the inclined faces of all the keepers, saidkeepers having means taking the door-locking thrust and providing forsetting them relatively to the cooperating inclined faces of thelatch-ring lugs, substantially as described.

6. Vuleanizer-door-locking devices comprising a series of spaced keepersheld to the vuleanizer-bod y and having inclined faces, and a latch-ringfitted revolubly to the door on an antifriction-bearing and having aseries of spaced lugs provided with inclined faces adapted tosimultaneously engage the inclined faces of all the keepers,substantially as described.

7. VulcaniZer-dcor-locking devices comprising a series oflongitudinally-adjustable spaced keepers held to the vulcanizer-body andhaving inclined faces, and a latch-ring fitted revolubly to the door onan antifriction-bearing and having a series of spaced lugs provided withinclined faces adapted to simultaneously engage the inclined faces ofall the keepers, said keepers having means taking the doorlocking thrustand providing for setting them relatively to the cooperating inclinedfaces of the latch-ring lugs, substantially as described.

8. VulcaniZcr-door-locking devices comprising a series oflongitudinally-ad j ustable spaced keepers held to the vulcanizer-bodyand having inclined faces, and a latch-ring fitted revolubly to thehinged door and having a series of spaced lugs provided with inclinedfaces adapted to simultaneously engage the inclined faces of all thekeepers, said keepers having means taking the door-lockingthrust andproviding for setting them relatively to the cooperating inclined facesof the latch-ring lugs, the hinges of the door having parts finallyattachable after the keepers are adjusted to the latch-ring lugs,substantially as described.-

9. In vulcanizer-door-locking devices, the combination,\vitli thevulcanizer-body having guides 6, of keepers 5 having inclined lugs 16and longitudinally movable in said guides, means holding the keepers inthe guides setbolts 10 taking the door-locking thrust on the keepers anddetermining their longitudinal adjustment, and a series of inclined lugson the door movable relatively to the inclined lugs of the keepers andadapted to engage them for locking the door, substantially as described.

10. In vulcanizer-door-locking devices, the combination, with thevulcaniZer-body having guides 6, of keepers 5 having inclined lugs 16and longitudinally movable in said guides, means holding the keepers inthe guides, setbolts 10 taking the door-locking thrust on the keepersand determining their longitudinal adjustment, and a latch-ring 12revoluble on the door and having a series of inclined lugs adapted tosimultaneously engage the inclined lugs of all the keepers for lockingthe door, substantially as described.

11. In vulcanizer-door-locking devices, the combination, with thevulcaniZer-body having guides 6, of keepers 5 having inclined lugs 16and longitudinally movable in said guides, means holding the keepers inthe guides, setbolts 10 taking the door-locking thrust on the keepersand determining their longitudinal adjustment, and a latch-ring 12revoluble on the door upon an interposed antifriction-bearing and havinga series of inclined lugs adapted to simultaneously engage the inclinedlugs of all the keepers for locking the door, substantially asdescribed.

EDWIN COUPLAND SHAWV.

WVitnesses:

ALVIN K. GooDWIN, OLIVER WILLIAMs.

